Method for forming tubes of celluloid and the like



March 21, 1933. S. NElDlCH 5 METHOD FOR FORMING TUBES OF CELLULOID AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 18, 1929 FIG I P predetermine the location of the different mafor Patented Mar. 21, 1933 UNITED STATESPATENTOFFICE sammn A. amnion, or EDGEWATER BARK, NEw ERsnY' mo r03 roamme TUBES or CELLULOID am), rnE

Application mad m 1a, 1929. s un No. 383,355. j v H M M invention is applicable to products .of cellulose, such as celluloid, cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, and similar, materials, to producela mosaic structure upon the outer 5 surface thereof of different kinds or colors-of material.

There is a commercial demand for: tubes of mosaic structure for the bodies and caps offountain pens, pencils, and the like. 101'- dinarily, such mosaic efl ect is produced in the manufacture of the material by aggregating pieces ofthe different materials and pressing them together in a softened state. When hardened, such an aggregateis cut to form tubes. Such l5 rods which are bored to form methods and means of manufacture 'arefobviously very costly; the cost of such raw mosaic' material being more than five times that V of the ordinary celluloid or the like of uniform texture or color. Moreover, it is, of course, impossible to precisely predetermine the location of the different materials in a tube to be formed from such an aggregate; and particularly to predetermine the location-of any pattern with referenceto'the circumference of the tubes. I a

It is the object and eflect of my invention to not only materially lessen the cost of manufactureof such mosaic tubes but'to precisely terials upon the outer surfaces of the tubes.-

As hereinafter described,it is characteristic 'of my invention that a tube is formedof inner and outer laminations of materials Which are different either in color or texture.

Such tubes may be conveniently formed by rolling sheets of celluloid and the like upon mandrel's. while the sheets are in a softened state owing tothe presence of a suitablesolvent; so that the successive convolutions of the sheets thus rolled cohere and,'when the solvent evaporates or is otherwise removed, the tubes are thus hardened.

For example, acetone is "a suitable solvent celluloid and cellulose nitrate, and ethyl acetate, or a mixture of alcohol and ether, are suitable solvents for cellulose acetate.

In such a process of manufacture of the tubes; theinner and outer laminationsmay W be part of a continuous sheet or formed of and the like upon a lamination of the tube forced into an inner outer material in-the inner respectively indicated at 1 may be what is known as pearl celluloid 'rarily rigidly connected .with. Said mandrel is preferably a cylinder separate sheets; However, tubes withrespec tively difi'erent outer and inner laminations may be otherwise formed,'for instance, by rendering thelaminati'ons tubular, independently of each other, and subsequently slipping one over the other. {In the latter method, if the outer tubular lamination be in an expanded condition when applied to the inner tubular lamination; it may be'caused to shrink thereon, in inseparable relation, as it hardens.

y invention includes the various novel features of procedure and means for form-r ingl tubes hereinafter more'definitely speci- In said'drawing; Fig. Iis a longitudinal sectional view of a laminated tube of celluloid mandrel." Fig. II is a sectional view, similar to Fig. I,

but showing selected regions of anouter 7'0 lamination; thus imbedding portions of the material; I,

Fig. III is alongitudinal sectionalview, similar to Figs. I and II,'bu't with the portions V of the outer laminations which are not thus" imbedded, eliminated' I Fig. IV is a transverse sectional view of the tube shown in Fig. I, but,on ,a larger, scale. e 1

Fig. V is a transverse sectional view of the tube shown in Fig. II, but on a larger scale.

Fig. VI is a transverse sectional view of the tube shown in Fig. III, but on a larger scale.

Referring to Fig. I ;,the tube of celluloid or the like includes inner and outer laminations, and 2,-ofsuitable materials, which are different in texture or color; for instance, the inner. lamination 1.

and the o'uterlamination be plain blackor gold colored celluloid. Said tube isternpowith" the mandrel 3, conveniently by frictional engagement .therewhich is flattened at the end 4 for engage- V ment in a turning mechanism similar to an ordinary lathe. A Said mandrel 3, with the tube thereon, 1s rotated, preferably while the tube is in a sof- I tened state,

' smooth face of exemplified, the location while selected regions 6 and 7 of the outer lamination 2 are forced into imbedded position in the inner lamination 1. Such imbedding operation may be conveniently effected by cameo rollers 8 and 9 of suitable dimensions. Such rollers may be pressed toward the axis of the mandrel 3 manually or by mechanical means such'asare ordinarily available for the operation of knurling rollers. However, smooth annular bands may bethus imbedded by smoothlycylindrical rollers or by pressure of the any'suitable tool. 7

Referring to Fig. 111; the portions of the outer lamination 2 which are not thus imbeddedand which are indicated in dotted lines inthat \iigure, may be removed by any suitable means; for instance, by the operation of grinding said tube during its rotation bysaid mandrel 3. The effect of the 7 several operations above described is to form .in which portions 6 and 7 of the outer lamination 2 areimbedded in the outersurface of the tube in contrast with the adjoining por- 'tions of the material 1.

In accordance with my invention as above of the various cle ments of the mosaic structure upon the outer surface of the tube may be precisely predetermined and the pattern thereofmay, of course, be infinitely varied.

-" Moreover, the portions ofthe tube material to be imbedded may be maintained .in a plastic state, during that operation, by either pre-v heating the tubeor heating the implement for'making the impression. r

Therefore, I to the precise means for effecting the same, above described,

. as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from.

the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims. 7 Iclaim: I y

.1. The method of forming a tube of celluloid and the like, witha smoothly cylindrical nner surface formed of a single material, and

surface formed a smoothly cylindrical outer of a plurality of materials in an exterior mosaic structure; which includes forming'a tube of smoothly cylindrical laminations of -dif ferent materials, forcing different regions of an outer lamination 'into an inner lamina- 1 t1on,sequent1allythus imbedding the same sequentially, without deforming the interior surface of said'tube; and thereafter separating from the embedded portions and eliminating the portions of th'e outer laminations which are not thus embedded. l

2. A method as in claim 1 wherein the matcrial of the'tube is maintained in a plastic state during the operation of impressing 1t.

3. A method as in claim 1;wherein the tube is rotated during the embedding operation,

a tube of mosaic effect rolling said outer and outer tube in the inner separating do not desireto 'limit myself details of .the procedure, or "term? mosaic Structure;

the-presence of ing a portion ofthe outer tube into the mate rial of the inner tube-while rotating said manbedded; whereby,

and the latter effected progressively, circumfer-entially.

4. A method as in claim '1; wherein the 6. A method as in claim 1; wherein the surplus material is in unitary tubular form- 1; wherein rotary die means for impressing the tube are heated.

at the conclusion of the embedding step but,

thereafter is removed'by abrasion, whilethe tube is rotated.

'7. The'method of forming a tube of celluloidand the like with a smoothly cylindrical inner; surface formed of a single material, and

a smoothlycylindrical outersurface formed ofa plurality of materials in an exterior mosaic structure; which includesforming an inner tube of one material, forming an outertube in: contact with said inner tube of a different material, and forcing a region of the outer tube into the material of the inner tube by forcing a roller against'the outer tube, while inner tubes together, Without deforming the interior surface of said tube; thus embedding saidregion of the tube and thereafter from the embedded portions and eliminating the portions of the outer tube which are not thus embedded, by eroding the surplus material which is to be removed. '8. The'method of loid and the like with asmoothly cylindrical inner surface formed of a single material, and a smoothly cylindrical outer surface formed of a plurality of materials an exering a rigid rotary mandrel with a tube of one material and covering that tube with another tube of a different material maintaining both of said tubes in a softened state by a suitablesolvent; and pressdrel and tube, and maintaining the inner surface of theinner tube smoothly uniform by said mandrel; and eliminatingthe portions of the outer tube which are not thus emthe deformation of the inner tube is limited to its outer surface.

9. The method of inlaying a tube of celluloid and the like, with a smoothly cylindrical inner surface formed of a single material, and a smoothly cylindrical .outer surface formed of a plurality of materials in anexterior mosaic structure; which includes supporting the inner surfaceof said tube upon a'rigid mandrel and thereby preventing deformation of said inner surface while deforming the outersurfaceof said tube by imbedding the inlay material therein; whereby, the deformation of the tube thus inlaid is limited to the outer surface thereof.

forming a tube. of celluwhich includes covstate during the inlaying operation by the presence of a suitable solvent.

12. A method of forming a tube of celluv loid and the like,

inner surface formed of a single material,

with a smoothly cylindrical and a smoothly cylindrical outer surface formed of aplurality of materials in an exterior mosaic structure; wh'ichincludes supporting the interior of the tube to be inlaid V 15 b y a rigid mandrel, fitting over that tube a tube of inlay material in an expanded condition; causing said outer tube to shrink upon said inner tube and thereafter forcing a portion of the outer tube into the material of the inner tube while retaining the inlay material in unitary tubular form and while supporting the inner surface of the inner tube against deformation, by said mandrel; and thereafter separating and removing the outer portions of the outer tube of inlay material which are not thus forced into the inner tube. In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Burlington, New Jersey, this 15th day of January, 1929.

SAMUEL A. NEIDIOH. 

